Oral Thrush

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Oral thrush is usually harmless. It’s common in babies and older people with dentures. It can be easily treated without the need to visit a GP. Speak to your pharmacist if you develop symptoms of oral thrush as some treatments are available without a prescription

Symptoms in Adults

Mouth is red inside and you have white patches
Cracks at the corners of the mouth
Not tasting things properly
An unpleasant taste in the mouth
Pain inside the mouth, for example a sore tongue or sore gums
Difficulty eating and drinking

Symptoms in Babies

A white coating on the tongue like cottage cheese – this can’t be rubbed off easily
They don’t want to feed
Nappy rash

N.B. If your baby is less than 4 months old seek advice from your GP

Oral thrush in adults isn’t contagious; however babies can pass oral thrush on through breastfeeding. This can cause nipple thrush in mothers.

How can I avoid triggers/ suggested lifestyle changes

Thrush is an infection caused by a fungus called Candida. Some things can make the fungus grow more than usual. You might get thrush if you are:

Taking antibiotics over a long time
Using asthma inhalers (steroids)
Diabetes
Getting cancer treatment like chemotherapy

Below are some tips on how to help prevent oral thrush

Take care of your teeth: brush twice a day, clean your dentures, go for regular check-ups even if you have dentures
Brush your gums and tongue with a soft toothbrush (if you don’t have any teeth)
Sterilise dummies and bottles regularly
Rinse your mouth after eating or taking medicine
Go to regular check-ups if you have a long-term condition like diabetes

Don’t

Wear your dentures at night
Keep wearing dentures if they don’t fit properly – see your dentist
Smoke

How do I treat?

There is usually no need to visit your GP to treat oral thrush. Treatments can be bought from Pharmacies allowing you to treat at home without having to visit the doctor. Your Pharmacist will provide you advice on the dose and how to use the treatment.

Locally applied treatment – the treatment is usually the use of an antifungal oral gel every day for at least 7 days.
- Always follow the instructions that come with the medicine
- Ideally, you should not eat or drink for about 30 minutes after using the gel. This helps to prevent the medicine from being washed out of your mouth too soon.
Speak to your pharmacist – for advice if you’re not sure which type of medicine is best for you/ your baby.

When should I seek advice?

If your baby is under 4 months and has signs of oral thrush
If your symptoms do not improve after 1 week of treatment with an oral mouth gel
If you have difficulty or pain when swallowing

If left untreated, the symptoms will often persist, and your mouth will continue to feel uncomfortable. In severe cases that are left untreated, there is also a risk of the infection spreading further into your body. This can be serious.

If you suffer from oral thrush frequently the GP may recommend blood tests. The tests will look for certain conditions linked to oral thrush, such as diabetes and nutritional deficiencies.

Where can I get more information?

NHS Choices – nhs.uk
Your local community pharmacy